Advanced English Conversations - Robert Allans, Ahmet Mustafaoglu, Metin Emir 2019
Set (89) - Better late than never
Dialogue
George: I wish I read this book long before - How did I let it go unnoticed?
Jane: Don’t beat yourself up! Better late than never.
George: It’s no exaggeration to say that this book is worth its weight in gold.
Jane: Is it? I’m getting curious! Do you mind if I borrow it for a while?
George: I’m afraid not. Don’t get me wrong but the topics raised in it are over your head - If you read it on your own, you may lose it.
Jane: Hand it over to me already! You’re underestimating my intellectual capabilities. Aren’t you?
George: Far from it. That’s out of the question!
Vocabulary
Go unnoticed: to not be seen or noticed.
Beat (oneself) up: to continually criticize or question oneself, usually about something that one cannot change.
Better late than never: it is better to do something or arrive after the expected time than not do it or arrive at all.
Worth its weight in gold: so useful, helpful, or valuable.
For a while: for some time.
Get someone wrong: to misunderstand.
Lose it: to become deranged or mentally disturbed.
Underestimate: to rate something lower than its real/actual value.
Out of the question: not allowed; not permitted.
Exercise
Fill in the gaps with the appropriate phrases:
go unnoticed
beat (oneself) up
better late than never
worth its weight in gold
for a while
get someone wrong
lose it
underestimate
out of the question
a. If his sudden wealth had .........., he wouldn't have been caught.
b. The baby was quiet .........., then burst out crying.
c. You can't go to Florida this spring. We can't afford it. It's ..........
d. Oh, honey, I know you're upset about failing the driver's license test, but try not to .......... too much.
e. You've .......... him .......... — I know he seems gruff, but he's a total sweetheart.
f. Observers of black swans tend to overestimate the analyzable and .......... the non-explainable.
g. After two weeks, I finally got a return phone call from that company ..........., I guess.
h. She used to turn heads wherever she went, but I think she's .......... a little as she's aged.
i. A computer system that didn't crash all the time would .......... around here!